Last night, we linked to a Los Angeles Times piece detailing the impact Matt Barnes has had in Clippers' camp. Within Broderick Turner's story on Barnes, there are a few more details on the influence Chris Paul had in recruiting the former Laker to L.A.'s other team.
"I've told everybody this: I hate playing against Matt," Paul said of Barnes. "But I knew him on my team, I would love it. He's passionate on defense, just like I am."
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the Pacific Division:
- Appearing on XTRA Sports 1360 in San Diego, Pau Gasol admitted that the trade rumors swirling around him last season made for an "uncomfortable situation," but said he's excited about the new-look Lakers and the coming season (link via Sports Radio Interviews).
- The Kings will have to make at least two more cuts before the regular season gets underway, even if coach Keith Smart isn't looking forward to it, writes Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee. "I wish this could be our team, I really do," Smart said of the Kings' current 17-man roster. "I feel we've had a lot of growth from the young guys on our team. I thought all the guys we brought in, if we could keep them and have a true farm system because we've seen those guys develop."
- As the Suns prepare to make their own cuts, Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic notes that roster hopefuls Diante Garrett and Luke Zeller would only earn the rookie minimum (about $473K) if they were on the team, while Ike Diogu and Solomon Jones would each cost the Suns the veteran's minimum (about $854K).
Barnes only plays defense when he wants to. As a Laker fan, I saw enough of him to realize that he could be an elite stopper if his head didn’t get in the way.